Pakistani students at risk in UK
Thousands of Pakistani students at risk in UK
London, Oct 01: Pakistani students in Britain are in the top league of those international students who are being
reported to the immigration authorities by the education providers concerning
their visa status in the UK. A study showed yesterday that more than
1,500 foreign students are being pinpointed to immigration officials each month.
The Manifesto Club campaign group, which obtained the figures under the Freedom
of Information Act said that the UK Border Agency didn't give them any
specific figures on Pakistani students but confirmed that Pakistani students
were amongst the "high risk" - indicating that they were amongst the top 4
reported groups. "We have been told that Pakistan is amongst the high
risk countries in terms of bogus students," Josie Appleton, the group's director
said while talking about the findings of the 'Students Under Watch'
report. Universities and other sponsors of international students
reported at least 27,121 migrants to the UK Border Agency in the 18 months
leading up to August last year, figures showed. The stringent measures
introduced by the coalition government means hundreds of bogus colleges offering
cheap qualifications have been shut down, forcing thousands of students out. The
number of hours a student can work has also been cut from 20 to 10 hours a week.
The clampdown on the bogus colleges means thousands of Pakistani and
other South Asian national students have to either pay high fees to the
regularised institutions or the institution is bound to report them to the Home
Office. The colleges which failed to get the highly trusted sponsor status have
simply disappeared, leaving students in limbo and a hectic legal battle to
recoup their fees. Hundreds of students have simply given up on the plans of
joining another education provider. Education is the most common reason
for migrants coming to the UK, with three in four of the 228,000 who came to the
UK for study last year coming from outside the EU. The Manifesto Club said the
stringent visa controls were forcing UK academics to spy on their own students,
eroding academic autonomy and damaging relationships between students and
staff. The group said: "Universities are reporting large numbers of
international students to the UKBA. The agency asks sponsors to email any
suspicions about students; each notification can include information about
several students".Between March 2009 and August last year, the UKBA received
27,121 notifications from education providers, the equivalent of more than 1,500
a month, the figures showed. Valerie Hartwich, author of the report said that Pakistani students represent a large portion of all international
students coming to Britain and they are, therefore, crucial to the educational
sector of this country. But she said, Pakistani students have reported being
particularly singled out for questioning on entering the UK for their
studies. She agreed that applicants from Pakistan often suffer from the
bad reputation built by a few bogus applicants, and well publicised scams and as
a result Pakistani applicants for student visas are thus more likely to see
applications rejected though they are genuine and fulfil UKBA requirements. She
said: "With the new changes to student visas Pakistani applicants for student
visas are likely to face a harder time obtaining visas to study in the UK
because as a country Pakistan will probably be on the 'suspicious' list and some
of its banking institutions are also likely to be on a list of unacceptable
banking institutions.
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350 students still waiting for 9th class result
Rawalpindi: As many as 350 students, both male and female, are still waiting for their 9th class
examination result held under the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education,
Rawalpindi. Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE)
Rawalpindi Controller Amjad Iqbal Bahra claimed to have resolved most of the
pending result cases of 9th class. However he admitted that result of 350
students was pending and said they would solve all cases within seven days. He
said: When we initially announced the results, the pass percentage of students
was 19%, however, after corrections the pass percentage has improved to 25%.
He said these 350 students could join 10th class and they could give
their supplementary examinations with 10th class subjects. Affected students of class 9th said that they are visiting board
office every day in the hope of clearance of their results, but failed to get
any kind of good news. A male student of class 9th, said that the lower
staff of the board is not cooperating with them. We are already in tension and
the board staff is misguiding us. We have no idea where should we go, he added.
A female student said that she could not come to the board office every
day to check the status of her result. The government should look into the
matter to give relief to students.
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A slap by teacher triggers protest at FG College for Women
Rawalpindi: Students of the Federal Government College for Women, F-7/2, staged a protest demonstration and
boycotted their classes, demanding an inquiry against a teacher, who allegedly
slapped a postgraduate student. According to information, a teacher
allegedly slapped a student of MA Arabic final year over a minor issue. Students
of the college came out of their classes in the morning and raised slogans
against the college administration for not taking any action against the
teacher. The students were holding placards against the college
administration and demanded strict action against the teacher. We have lodged a
complaint against the teacher, but nothing has been done so far, said one of the
students. According to information, the incident took place two days ago.
The students of the college have lodged a complaint against the teacher in
principal s office and administration, but the college has tried to hush up the
matter. We would not come under pressure at any cost. This is not the way
to behave with college students and it should be discouraged, said a
student. The students, on the occasion, said that they would continue
their protest demonstration until their demands were not met. We are protesting
within the boundary walls of the college right now. We will come out on roads,
if action is not taken against the teacher, a student said. This scribe
contacted Federal Government College for Women (F-7/2) Principal Durdana Israr
to take her version over the matter, but nobody picked up the phone at her
office. The correspondent also contacted Federal Directorate of Education
(FDE) Director General Atif Mahmood Kiyani but he didn t pick up his cell phone.
The director colleges and FDE spokesperson could also not be contacted despite
repeated attempts. The news
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HEC, CCEP arrange essay writing competition on federalism
Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Centre
for Civic Education Pakistan (CCEP) are arranging a national essay writing
competition to explore and examine the way citizens relate to federalism in
Pakistan. Regular students of public and private universities (age 18-25)
can take part in the competition and submit their essays on the topic "What does
federalism mean to me" by September 30. However, no entries will be
accepted after the deadline and only one submission per student will be
accepted. The competition is aimed at promoting writing and analytical skills
among university students along with encouraging research, analysis and argument
development on the theme. Students can write on the topic either in
English or Urdu and the essay must be original and unpublished and must not
exceed 2,500 words, including footnotes or endnotes. All sources used should be
given proper reference and nothing should be copied from books or newspapers
without using references. Primary consideration will be given to the
essay's originality and its contribution to new knowledge, its insights and
creative approach. English and Urdu essays will be judged and awarded
separately. HEC will award 50 marks for substance and originality, 25 marks for
understanding and arguments and 25 marks for writing style, composition and
organisation. The authors of the three best essays in English and Urdu will be
awarded Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000, along with certificates of honour
and shields. app
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Distinction
Rawalpindi: M Aun Abbas Zaidi, a student of the Roots School
System, Defence Housing Authority, Phase I, Islamabad, got 15 straight As (14
A*s and 1A) in the O level examinations, says a press release. The news
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UoP clears doctorate thesis on Sufism
Peshawar: University of
Peshawar's Area Study Centre has recommended Sakina Khan for award of PhD after
clearing her research thesis on 'Central Asian Sufi Influences in North West
Frontier Province' (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) with specific reference to
Chishtiyyah and Naqshbandiyyah schools of thought.
According to a press release issued by the university, Ms Sakina maintained
that influence of Central Asian Sufism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been
diminishing with the spread of Islamic extremism and Talibanisation over the
last two decades. Dawn
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